A woman in northern India has been accused of a shocking crime, allegedly drowning her six-year-old niece during a wedding celebration out of jealousy over the child’s appearance. The woman, known as Poonam, is said to have committed the act in a tub of water during a family gathering in Panipat on Monday.
The young victim, identified as Vidhi, was attending the wedding with her parents, infant brother, and grandmother. During the festivities, Vidhi’s father received a distressing phone call informing him that his daughter was missing, sparking an immediate family search.
The search ended tragically when Vidhi’s grandmother, Omwati, discovered the child’s lifeless body in a nearby storeroom, her head submerged in water. Vidhi was rushed to NC Medical College, but was later pronounced dead.
Following the tragic incident, police arrested Poonam, who subsequently confessed to the murder of her paternal niece, Vidhi. Local media reports indicate that Poonam told authorities she was motivated by jealousy, not wanting anyone at the wedding to outshine her in terms of beauty.
Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh revealed that Poonam committed the crime when all the guests were away from the house. Poonam reportedly saw Vidhi climbing the stairs, followed her to the terrace, engaged her in conversation, and then drowned her in a plastic tub filled with water outside the storeroom.
In a chilling twist, Poonam also confessed to the murders of three other children, including another niece and her own son, whom she also drowned. According to Superintendent Singh, Poonam admitted during interrogation that she was “irritated by beautiful girls.”
In 2023, Poonam allegedly murdered her sister-in-law’s nine-year-old daughter and then killed her own son to divert suspicion. Earlier this year, in August, she reportedly killed a young girl in a nearby town because she was “prettier” than her. The family had previously considered these deaths accidental, unaware that Poonam was behind these heinous acts.